Alastair Millar
@skriptorium.info
Translator & flash sf writer (BSFA); 🇨🇿/🇬🇧
Posts eclectically (archaeology, travel, current affairs, words)
❤️good coffee & bad puns; 🚫 genAI; unsolicited DM = block
Happily married; he/him; 🏳️🌈/🏳️⚧️ ally; #NAFO fella; 🇺🇦 🇬🇪
Links: https://linktr.ee/alastairmillar
Posts eclectically (archaeology, travel, current affairs, words)
❤️good coffee & bad puns; 🚫 genAI; unsolicited DM = block
Happily married; he/him; 🏳️🌈/🏳️⚧️ ally; #NAFO fella; 🇺🇦 🇬🇪
Links: https://linktr.ee/alastairmillar
Hey @waterstones.bsky.social - is it company-wide policy to consider Ukraine part of Russia, or are your Glasgow staff just incapable of understanding why there's a war in Europe right now?
Screenshot from Threads.
Screenshot from Threads.
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Hey @waterstones.bsky.social - is it company-wide policy to consider Ukraine part of Russia, or are your Glasgow staff just incapable of understanding why there's a war in Europe right now?
Screenshot from Threads.
Screenshot from Threads.
Look, AI has its place, e.g. analytical AI is invaluable in medical research, and assistive AI spellcheckers are universal.
But generative AI is a theft-based imitation service that denies human creativity, steals livelihoods, and discourages thinking. I do not, and will not, use or support it.
But generative AI is a theft-based imitation service that denies human creativity, steals livelihoods, and discourages thinking. I do not, and will not, use or support it.
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Look, AI has its place, e.g. analytical AI is invaluable in medical research, and assistive AI spellcheckers are universal.
But generative AI is a theft-based imitation service that denies human creativity, steals livelihoods, and discourages thinking. I do not, and will not, use or support it.
But generative AI is a theft-based imitation service that denies human creativity, steals livelihoods, and discourages thinking. I do not, and will not, use or support it.
As Ukraine signs an order for 100-150 Gripen fighters, we have this excellent post from the Swedish Embassy in Kyiv.
NAFO expansion is not negotiable!
NAFO expansion is not negotiable!
October 23, 2025 at 3:24 AM
As Ukraine signs an order for 100-150 Gripen fighters, we have this excellent post from the Swedish Embassy in Kyiv.
NAFO expansion is not negotiable!
NAFO expansion is not negotiable!
He's right, you know.
October 17, 2025 at 4:58 AM
He's right, you know.
Work smarter, not harder 😉
October 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Work smarter, not harder 😉
And that's my democratic duty fulfilled 🇨🇿
October 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
And that's my democratic duty fulfilled 🇨🇿
Lots of fuss being kicked up about AI 'actress' "Tilly Norwood", and quite right too. It's not real, can't act, is designed on the basis of stolen movements and gestures, and is designed to put people out of work.
You can put lipstick on a clanker, but a clanker it remains.
You can put lipstick on a clanker, but a clanker it remains.
October 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Lots of fuss being kicked up about AI 'actress' "Tilly Norwood", and quite right too. It's not real, can't act, is designed on the basis of stolen movements and gestures, and is designed to put people out of work.
You can put lipstick on a clanker, but a clanker it remains.
You can put lipstick on a clanker, but a clanker it remains.
It's International Translation Day, also known as the feast of St Jerome, patron saint of translators!
#internationaltranslationday #xl8 #translatorslife
#internationaltranslationday #xl8 #translatorslife
September 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
It's International Translation Day, also known as the feast of St Jerome, patron saint of translators!
#internationaltranslationday #xl8 #translatorslife
#internationaltranslationday #xl8 #translatorslife
Your guide to the main players in the imminent Czech elections.
Explainer:
SPOLU: governing centre right Civic Democrats & allies.
Starostové: 'Mayors & Independents'
ANO: party of oligarch Andrej Babiš
Stačilo: rebranded Communists & Social Democrats.
SPD: far-right party
ANO leads in the polls
Explainer:
SPOLU: governing centre right Civic Democrats & allies.
Starostové: 'Mayors & Independents'
ANO: party of oligarch Andrej Babiš
Stačilo: rebranded Communists & Social Democrats.
SPD: far-right party
ANO leads in the polls
September 30, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Your guide to the main players in the imminent Czech elections.
Explainer:
SPOLU: governing centre right Civic Democrats & allies.
Starostové: 'Mayors & Independents'
ANO: party of oligarch Andrej Babiš
Stačilo: rebranded Communists & Social Democrats.
SPD: far-right party
ANO leads in the polls
Explainer:
SPOLU: governing centre right Civic Democrats & allies.
Starostové: 'Mayors & Independents'
ANO: party of oligarch Andrej Babiš
Stačilo: rebranded Communists & Social Democrats.
SPD: far-right party
ANO leads in the polls
You know what really disturbs me about this meme?
The picture on the left (Holly Fisher) dates to 2014 - over a decade ago.
The picture on the right (Reem Slaleh Raiyshi) dates to 2003/4 - over two decades ago.
And we still see the same fanaticism now.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
The picture on the left (Holly Fisher) dates to 2014 - over a decade ago.
The picture on the right (Reem Slaleh Raiyshi) dates to 2003/4 - over two decades ago.
And we still see the same fanaticism now.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
September 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
You know what really disturbs me about this meme?
The picture on the left (Holly Fisher) dates to 2014 - over a decade ago.
The picture on the right (Reem Slaleh Raiyshi) dates to 2003/4 - over two decades ago.
And we still see the same fanaticism now.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
The picture on the left (Holly Fisher) dates to 2014 - over a decade ago.
The picture on the right (Reem Slaleh Raiyshi) dates to 2003/4 - over two decades ago.
And we still see the same fanaticism now.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
Last night's attack on Ukraine is still ongoing, after more than 12 hours. So far, 500 attack drones and 40 missiles.
In Europe. By Russia.
In Europe. By Russia.
September 28, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Last night's attack on Ukraine is still ongoing, after more than 12 hours. So far, 500 attack drones and 40 missiles.
In Europe. By Russia.
In Europe. By Russia.
Delighted to have my flash sf appear once again at @scifansat.bsky.social, courtesy of editor @jason-h-abbott.bsky.social - this time, 'Flechette', a schoolroom tale that may leave you pensive.
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
Do read the editorial, too, particularly if you're in North America.
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
Do read the editorial, too, particularly if you're in North America.
September 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Delighted to have my flash sf appear once again at @scifansat.bsky.social, courtesy of editor @jason-h-abbott.bsky.social - this time, 'Flechette', a schoolroom tale that may leave you pensive.
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
Do read the editorial, too, particularly if you're in North America.
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
Do read the editorial, too, particularly if you're in North America.
Seen on Threads this morning:
September 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Seen on Threads this morning:
Mood when I hear Americans talking about the Rapture being imminent again.
September 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Mood when I hear Americans talking about the Rapture being imminent again.
Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my debut flash science fiction collection, 'Mars & More' 😀
Available at books2read.com/MarsMore
Or order in print (paperback) through your favourite bookstore: the ISBN is 979-8-227-17966-1
Available at books2read.com/MarsMore
Or order in print (paperback) through your favourite bookstore: the ISBN is 979-8-227-17966-1
September 20, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my debut flash science fiction collection, 'Mars & More' 😀
Available at books2read.com/MarsMore
Or order in print (paperback) through your favourite bookstore: the ISBN is 979-8-227-17966-1
Available at books2read.com/MarsMore
Or order in print (paperback) through your favourite bookstore: the ISBN is 979-8-227-17966-1
So yesterday I got to see a pair of 3 million (!!) year old Australopithecine (human ancestor) skeletons from Ethiopia in Prague - in continental Europe for the first time. Really puts things in perspective.
September 20, 2025 at 6:08 AM
So yesterday I got to see a pair of 3 million (!!) year old Australopithecine (human ancestor) skeletons from Ethiopia in Prague - in continental Europe for the first time. Really puts things in perspective.
The Taras Shevchenko monument in Riga, Latvia, where Ukrainian flags are flying all over the place. It's been here since 2015, marking the poet's visit to the city in 1842.
Photo my own, taken today.
🇺🇦🇱🇻
Photo my own, taken today.
🇺🇦🇱🇻
September 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The Taras Shevchenko monument in Riga, Latvia, where Ukrainian flags are flying all over the place. It's been here since 2015, marking the poet's visit to the city in 1842.
Photo my own, taken today.
🇺🇦🇱🇻
Photo my own, taken today.
🇺🇦🇱🇻
On my travels until next Thursday - exploring Riga and its environs in Latvia. My 37th country, apparently.
Here's a pic of the historic (but perhaps unfortunately named) House of the Blackheads, taken today.
Here's a pic of the historic (but perhaps unfortunately named) House of the Blackheads, taken today.
September 5, 2025 at 3:37 PM
On my travels until next Thursday - exploring Riga and its environs in Latvia. My 37th country, apparently.
Here's a pic of the historic (but perhaps unfortunately named) House of the Blackheads, taken today.
Here's a pic of the historic (but perhaps unfortunately named) House of the Blackheads, taken today.
This is what a traitor to Europe looks like: Slovak Premier Robert Fico with Vladimir Putin at the SCO meeting in Tianjin, China, shortly before expressing interest in deepening energy cooperation with Moscow. 😡
September 2, 2025 at 1:33 PM
This is what a traitor to Europe looks like: Slovak Premier Robert Fico with Vladimir Putin at the SCO meeting in Tianjin, China, shortly before expressing interest in deepening energy cooperation with Moscow. 😡
Life? It's what you make it.
Very pleased to have my latest flash #sciencefiction story, 'The Modern Prometheus', in the 2nd Anniversary ('Creation') issue at @scifansat.bsky.social, courtesy of editor @jason-h-abbott.bsky.social. Enjoy!
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
#amwriting #writingcommunity
Very pleased to have my latest flash #sciencefiction story, 'The Modern Prometheus', in the 2nd Anniversary ('Creation') issue at @scifansat.bsky.social, courtesy of editor @jason-h-abbott.bsky.social. Enjoy!
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
#amwriting #writingcommunity
August 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Life? It's what you make it.
Very pleased to have my latest flash #sciencefiction story, 'The Modern Prometheus', in the 2nd Anniversary ('Creation') issue at @scifansat.bsky.social, courtesy of editor @jason-h-abbott.bsky.social. Enjoy!
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
#amwriting #writingcommunity
Very pleased to have my latest flash #sciencefiction story, 'The Modern Prometheus', in the 2nd Anniversary ('Creation') issue at @scifansat.bsky.social, courtesy of editor @jason-h-abbott.bsky.social. Enjoy!
scifansat.com/bibi/?book=S...
#amwriting #writingcommunity
Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!
(Image credit: Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago website)
(Image credit: Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago website)
August 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!
(Image credit: Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago website)
(Image credit: Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago website)
Today the fella is in Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown, Kryvyi Rih, at the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Opened in 1886 it was plundered by the Bolsheviks (1922), and shuttered in 1935. It reopened as a church only in 1991 - a potent reminder of Ukrainian Orthodox resilience.
August 23, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Today the fella is in Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown, Kryvyi Rih, at the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Opened in 1886 it was plundered by the Bolsheviks (1922), and shuttered in 1935. It reopened as a church only in 1991 - a potent reminder of Ukrainian Orthodox resilience.
Have a highland coo, for no particular reason! 😁
(From 'Love Scotland' on Facebook)
(From 'Love Scotland' on Facebook)
August 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Have a highland coo, for no particular reason! 😁
(From 'Love Scotland' on Facebook)
(From 'Love Scotland' on Facebook)